Good morning, Poppy, the morning that changes everything
Emma wakes to the sound of her husbands voice at the kitchen table. He leans close, wraps his arms around her and whispers, Good morning, Poppy. He drifts back to sleep, breathing softly.
Emma opens her eyes, frozen with a chill that runs through her bones. What has happened? Everything seemed fine a moment ago. Her husband, James, rubs his eyes, yawns and says, Emma, youre shivering. Its summer, yet youre under the blanket like a snowman. Ill put the kettle on.
James hums a lively tune as he heads for the stove. Emma stays in bed a little longer, then drags herself up, her legs feeling like lead. A dull hiss fills her head. She thinks maybe a cup of tea would help.
James asks for a pancake. Emma glares, You called me Poppy this morning.
What? Love? he replies. You must have misheard. Emma, Poppy youre just halfasleep. Thats why you look so cold and gloomy. He shrugs and says, Ill go to work on an empty stomach.
Emma wanders around the house, trying to steady herself. She waters the plants, throws together a batch of pancakes, throws on a coat and drives to Jamess clinic. Somewhere along the way she convinces herself she really did hear him call her Poppy.
At the clinic a new secretary sits behind the front desk. Shes young, striking, with a mass of auburn curls and a confident smile. Mr. James is booked solid today; I can put you in for next week, she says.
Emma, irritated, snaps, No, I need an appointment for myself, not for you. The secretarys eyes widen. Excuse me?
Im Emma Thompson, Jamess wife. Step aside, will you? We have enough paperwork without extra hands.
A speaker crackles, Jamess voice bright, Emma, could you bring me a coffee? Emma?
Emma sighs, Fine, Ill bring it. She carries the tray into his office.
James eyes her, Emma? Whats wrong?
She places the coffee and the pancakes on his desk, then says, Youll get the divorce papers in the post. Bon appétit.
James blusters, What the hell is happening? You look like a witch on a broom.
Emma retorts, Your new secretary is a witch. Why is her hair a mess? Youre a respectable dentist and youve hired a vulgar secretary. Its cheap, James.
James huffs, Enough, Emma. I cant stand these outbursts. Ill spend a week at the cottage and wait for you to cool down. Call me when youre ready.
Emma snaps, Its too late, James. Ill not tolerate cheating. Tell me why this is happening.
James sighs, takes a sip of coffee, and grimaces. Violet quit. I hired Poppy on her recommendation.
How long ago?
A month ago, he mutters, looking away.
Why didnt you tell me? You always share news.
I didnt expect Poppy to stay. Shes doing a great job.
At work? James fidgets, Shes great at work!
Its accidental, I swear! Emma cries. Ill pack my things and leave today.
Where would you go? James asks, nervous. I said Id be at the cottage for a week. I dont want a divorce, Emma!
I cant hear my name from your mouth any longer. Emma, Poppy. Your redhaired secretary will haunt my thoughts forever. Dont destroy my mind; my job is stressful enough. I work with children.
Stay in the flat, James pleads. Why would I need your house? I have my own place.
Its an old wooden cottage in the countryside, Emma says. Thats my home, end of story.
The cottage, inherited from Emmas parents, smells of damp and memories. Her friend Nell, who lives nearby, pops in, You cant stay here, Emma, get back to the flat. Sell the place, get a mortgage, move on.
Emma opens every window, breathing in the scent of grass and childhood. Nell suggests the attic bedroom, Sashas gone for the holidays; you could stay until autumn.
Emma shrugs, The teenagers room is offlimits.
Nell jokes, What, youre a mother now?
Emma replies, Ive lived on Jamess clinic earnings for five years. He treats my salary like pocket money, telling me to save for fun.
Nell sighs, Hes a good man, I guess.
Emma admits, Its heavy on my heart.
Nell adds, Id knock out Poppys front teeth if shes a problem.
Emma laughs, Shes young, healthy, she wont be left toothless.
Nell teases, Youre old and sick, aren’t you? Forty is just the start.
Emma wonders how to explain everything to their daughter Polly, If we divorce, Ill tell her. Shell quit school, come back to plead, I dont want that.
Nell sympathises, Twenty years together, youre not sorry?
Emma snaps, Leave me be.
Nell, surprised, I thought youd cry.
Emma, You wont see me break.
Nell, Stress shows.
Emma, Maybe.
Nell offers, Need a bucket? Lets fetch water, clean the floor, dust the windows.
Emma, I could stay in a hotel, but Im determined to keep the house. Its my parents home; I wont tear it down or sell it.
Nell suggests hiring designers, You could renovate, its your shared flat after all.
Emma says, I dont want to stay.
Nell asks, Will you split the house?
Emma shrugs, James might leave it to us, his cottage, and Polly decides. Its technically hers.
Nell remarks, James bought a luxury estate; he could have left that to you.
Emma replies, Everything will be fine. Im not going to moan.
Later, the old water tank is gone; a new house sits behind a tall fence.
Nell, skeptical, remarks, So many years have passed. Look how close your houses are now, theyll probably expand.
Emma walks the perimeter, sees the fence with three sides, only stakes on her side. Maybe they havent finished the fence yet, she muses.
A car pulls up, a man steps out, looking indifferent.
Emma, What do you want?
The man, Do you need water? There used to be a water column here.
Emma, I need water. Is there a well?
He, No wells left.
Emma, Fine, Ill use my own.
Nell whispers, You have drinking water?
Emma, I do, but Im not going to the well.
The next morning, Emma is startled by a piglets squeal, just like childhood memories. No smell of fresh bread, no footsteps. She feels tears rising again.
A voice calls, Whos there? Ill call the police!
A neighbor shouts back, Dont worry, I need my pig named Hector.
Emma, still in her pyjamas, steps onto the porch. What pig? Youre joking.
The man yells, Hector! as a black, tiny pig emerges from the overgrown grass.
Emma, Is he a pedigree?
Man, Im not an expert on pigs.
Emma, Why do you have a pig?
Man, He wandered onto my plot, stayed in the shed. Ive searched the whole village, no ones looking for a pig. Hes a friend.
Emma, How did you end up in this village?
Man, Its quiet, fresh air, close to the city. Youre not a country girl either?
Emma, Enough. Im going through a divorce, Im stressed. I grew up here; everyone had pigs. Stop looking at my hands.
Man, Lets leave, its unsafe.
He departs, leaving Emma alone with the pig.
The next day a dogs whine wakes her. She steps outside, sees a sleepy neighbor in pajamas, the pig snorting nearby.
She asks, Is that your puppy?
Neighbor, Why do you think?
Emma, You have no fence; the pigs wander in, maybe the dogs too.
Neighbor, I was about to take a stray to a shelter.
Emma, Ive never owned a dog.
Neighbor, Consider it a gift. Name it.
Emma, Ars sounds nice.
Neighbor, Im Arsen; dont name it after me.
Emma, Then call it Chuck.
Neighbor, Chuck and Hector, perfect! Whats your name?
Emma, Emma.
Neighbor, Nice name.
Emma, Im staying.
He offers, Ill teach you about dogs, youll get one for protection.
Emma, still reeling from the divorce and betrayal, watches the neighbor leave.
She hears Jamess voice from somewhere, Whats this, a pajama party?
Emma, James, this is Arsen, Arsen, this is James, my husbandsoon to be ex. Why are you here? Did you change your mind about the divorce?
Arsen, You left the gate open, Im here to ask if youre still going through with it.
James, My daughter dropped by, thought the cottage was empty. Talk to her, shell call you.
James walks away, leaving Emma staring at the neighbor.
He mutters, Your house is old, no water, no gas, a toilet outside. Youll keep coming to me, dragging stray animals. Move in with me; I cant get rid of you. Im not looking for random flings. We have kids, I have two already. Lets live together, rebuild the house, maybe be on a firstname basis?
Emma, Are you mad? I could be a victim of a stalker. Stay away. Im dealing with a divorce and betrayal. I warned you.
A year later Emma and James marry again and adopt a cat.
